The term “multitasking” originally referred to a computer's ability to carry out several tasks at one time. For many people, multitasking has become a way of life and even a key to success. In fact, some excellent mental aerobic exercises (大脑训练) involve engaging the brain in two or more challenging activities at a time. Although checking e-mail while talking on a phone and reading the newspaper may be second nature for some people, many times multitasking can make us less productive, rather than more. And studies show that too much multitasking can lead to increased stress, anxiety and memory loss.

In order to multitask, the brain uses an area known as the prefrontal cortex (前额叶脑皮层). Brain scans of volunteers performing multiple tasks together show that as they shift from task to task, this front part of the brain actually takes a moment of rest between tasks. You may have experienced a prefrontal cortex “moment of rest” yourself if you've ever dialed (拨电话) a phone number and suddenly forgotten who you called when the line is answered. What probably occurred is that between the dialing and the answering, your mind shifted to another thought or task, and then took that “moment” to come back. Research has also shown that for many volunteers, job efficiency (效率) declines while multitasking, as compared to when they perform only one task at a time.

Multitasking is easiest when at least one of the tasks is habitual, or requires little thought. Most people don' t find it difficult to eat and read the newspaper at the same time. However, when two or more attention-requiring tasks are attempted at one time, people sometimes make mistakes.

We often don't remember things as well when we're trying to manage several details at the same time. Without mental focus, we may not pay enough attention to new information coming in, so it never makes it into our memory stores. That is one of the main reasons we forget people's names—even sometimes right after they have introduced themselves. Multitasking can also affect our relationships. If someone checks their e-mail while on the phone with a friend, they may come off as absent-minded or disinterested. It can also cause that person to miss or overlook key information being passed on to them.

1. Why are some mental aerobic exercises designed to engage people in multitasking?

A. To make them more productive.                 

B. To reduce their stress and anxiety.

C. To develop their communication Skills.         

D. To help them perform daily tasks more easily.

2. According to Paragraph 2, why may a person suddenly forget who he has called?

A. He may have his prefrontal cortex temporarily damaged.    

B. He is probably interrupted by another task.

C. He is probably not very familiar with the person he has called.    

D. He may need a rest between dialing and speaking.

3. People tend to make mistakes when       .

A. they perform several challenging tasks at a time 

B. new messages are processed one after another    

C. their relationships with others are affected       

D. the tasks require little thought

4. What is the main idea of the passage?

A. Multitasking has become a way of life.

B. Multitasking often leads to efficiency decline.

C. Multitasking exercises need to be improved.

D. Multitasking enables people to remember things better.[来源:Z#xx#k.Com]

 

Tens of thousands of Chinese have joined a debate (辩论) on whether students should be separated into science（理科） and liberal arts（文科）classes in high school, a practice that allows them to stay competitive in college entrance exam by choosing preferred subjects. The debate came after the Ministry of Education began to ask for opinions from the public on Friday on whether it was necessary and possible to stop the dividing system, which has been accepted for decades.

In a survey started by www. qq. com, more than 260 000 people cast their votes, with 54 percent of those voted for the abolishment (废除)and 40 percent against.

A netizen from Chengdu said: “Sciences can activate the mind, while arts could strengthen their learning ability.”

But some people disagreed with him. A netizen nicknamed “gentle scholar” said the students would have more burden if they have more subjects to study. “You don’t even know how difficult the courses are. I suggest a survey among students.”

“Abolish the current system of division? We have to study nine subjects? Finally we will study everything and have learnt little,” wrote another netizen.

Li Yanling, an education expert in Beijing, called on education authorities to consider students’ school burden.

Chinese students are required to choose either arts or science subjects after ten years’ education, which include six years in primary school, three years in junior high school and one year in senior high school.

Besides the Chinese language, mathematics and English, which are must for everyone, science students are required to take physics, biology and chemistry, while arts students study politics, history and geography. Zxxk

1.Choosing preferred subjects can help students __________.

    A. have more chance to look for jobs in future     

B. find a good job after graduation

C. have more advantages to enter a university     

D. show interest in daily life

2.Netizen nicknamed “gentle scholar” __________.

    A. is for the abolishment                B. is against the abolishment

C. doesn’t care the abolishment       D. prefers students to learn more

3.Which of the following statements is NOT true?           .

    A. The debate is on whether the students should choose science or liberal arts classes in high school Zxxk

B. More people on the Internet are for the abolishment

C. The students who are against the abolishment think abolishing the current system of division will heavy their burden.

D. Science students are required to take physics, biology and chemistry besides

Chinese, math and English.

4.What must a Chinese student learn in 2008?

    A. Chinese, math and English.            B. Physics, biology and chemistry.

C. Politics, history and geography.       D. Both B and C

 

Chinese girl looking for language exchanger
Posted Feb 10, 2012 16:25    by Sophia
Tag: Seeking Language partners  Guangzhou   Sex: Female    Race/Ethnicity: Chinese
I am a Chinese girl in my 20’s, can speak and write in English, but I’d like to make some improvement. People always look for making it better, right?
Meanwhile, I also like to meet more friends if we really have some topics to share.
And if you are in Guangzhou or visit here, I am more than willing to show you around in my spare time.
Reply to happycora@hotmail.com or call 15015704625
Tianhe nice apartment for share
Posted Feb 24, 2012 16:47     by Vivian
Tag: Seeking roommates     Guangzhou   Tianhe District     Up to 2000 RMB
I have a room available for rent in a shared apartment in Central Tianhe district.
The room has a big window with a nice view. The apartment itself is on the 22th floor of a new secure building on Tianhe Bei Lu, about 10 minutes walk from metro stations(地铁站) on lines 1 and 3, as well as buses and other transportation methods very close.
If you are interested, please feel free to phone me (Vivian) on 13145751201 (message preferred), or email me on vivian_liu2003@hotmail.com.
Business Interpreter/Guide
Posted Feb 26, 2012 08:46     by Sony
Tag: Business Services    Guangzhou   Baiyun District
Dear Foreign Friends, I am a professional interpreter, now looking for a Freelance interpreter job urgently. Please read my CV at below：
Name: Sony Song      Gender: Male      Age: 22 years old
Education: Studied English in Da Shan Foreign Language College
Birth: 9th Oct 1987, Luohe city, Henan province, China.
Ability: Speak fluent English, know Guangzhou city very well, can also guide you to Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Dongguan, Shunde, Macao, Hongkong, etc.
Contact Detail: E-mail/MSN: sonysong4@hotmail.com; cell phone: 15112015812
Looking for flat
Posted Mar 11, 2012 14:03     by Lucy
Tag: Apartments wanted     Guangzhou
Hello,
This is Lucy coming from Peru and looking for a short term flat, from 15th April until 30th April 2012. If somebody can give some information, send me pictures, price and address.
Email: lucitamaron@hotmail.com; cell phone: 13800013900
Thanks a lot in advance!
【小题1】If foreigner wants to learn some Chinese and make friends; he / she can call _________.

A．15015704625

B．13800013900

C．13145751201

D．15112015812

【小题2】To share a department where the traffic is quite convenient, you may send text message to ______ .

A．Sophia

B．Lucy

C．Vivian

D．Sony

【小题3】What do the four advisers have in common?

A．All of them speak both Chinese and English.

B．All of them are in their twenties.

C．All of them are Guangzhou citizens.

D．All of them are hotmail users.

【小题4】The information above can be probably found_________.

A．in a magazine	B．in a newspaper
C．at a website	D．in a guidebook

Chinese girl looking for language exchanger

Posted Feb 10, 2010 16:25     by Sophia    

Tag: Seeking Language partners    Guangzhou     Sex: Female

Race/Ethnicity: Chinese

I am a Chinese girl in my 20’s, can speak and write in English, but I’d like to make some improvement. People always look for making it better, right?

Meanwhile, I also like to meet more friends if we really have some topics to share.

And if you are in Guangzhou or visit here, I am more than willing to show you around in my spare time.

Reply to happycora@hotmail.com or call 15015704625

Tianhe nice apartment for share

Posted Feb 24, 2010 16:47     by Vivian  

Tag: Seeking roommates     Guangzhou  Tianhe District     Up to 2000 RMB

I have a room available for rent in a shared apartment in Central Tianhe district.

The room has a big window with a nice view. The apartment itself is on the 22th floor of a new secure building on Tianhe Bei Lu, about 10 minutes walk from metro stations(地铁站) on lines 1 and 3, as well as buses and other transportation methods very close.

If you are interested, please feel free to phone me (Vivian) on 13145751201 (message preferred), or email me on vivian_liu2003@hotmail.com.

Business Interpreter/Guide

Posted Feb 26, 2010 08:46     by Sony   

Tag: Business Services    Guangzhou  Baiyun District    

Dear Foreign Friends, I am a professional interpreter, now looking for a Freelance interpreter job urgently. Please read my CV at below：

Name: Sony Song

Gender: Male

Age: 22 years old

Education: Studied English in Da Shan Foreign Language College

Birth: 9th Oct 1987, Luohe city, Henan province, China.

Ability: Speak fluent English, know Guangzhou city very well, can also guide you to Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Dongguan, Shunde, Macao, Hongkong, etc.

Contact Detail: E-mail/MSN: sonysong4@hotmail.com; cell phone: 15112015812

Looking for flat

Posted Mar 11, 2010 14:03     by Lucy    

Tag: Apartments wanted     Guangzhou         

Hello,

This is Lucy coming from Peru and looking for a short term flat, from 15th April until 4th May 2010. If somebody can give some information, send me pictures, price and address.

Email: lucitamaron@hotmail.com; cell phone: 13800013900

Thanks a lot in advance!

1.If foreigner wants to learn some Chinese and make friends; he / she can call _________.

A. 15015704625    B. 13800013900       C. 13145751201    D. 15112015812

2.To share a department where the traffic is quite convenient, you may send text message to ________.

A. Sophia         B. Vivian             C. Lucy           D. Sony

3.What do the four advisers have in common?

A. All of them speak both Chinese and English.

B. All of them are in their twenties.

C. All of them are Guangzhou citizens.  

D. All of them are hotmail users.

4.The information above can be probably found_________.

A. in a magazine                      B. in a newspaper  

C. at a website                           D. in a guidebook

 

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1.The passage is intended for those     .

A．with a slim figure	B．with high blood pressure
C．who are very fat	D．who seek for a healthy diet

2.Which of the following emphasizes gradual weight loss?

A．NuPhedrine.	B．Miracle Fat Burning Cream.
C．Alli Diet Pill.	D．Bikini Boot Camp.

3.Which of the follwing is produced in the form of thick liquid?

A．NuPhedrine.	B．Miracle Fat Burning Cream.
C．Alli Diet Pill.	D．Bikini Boot Camp.

4.Bikini Boot Camp is different from the others in that     .

A．ordinary people can afford it	B．it is a diet program full of fun
C．you eat less but exercise more	D．it can save you much money